Holding devices

ABSTRACT

A manipulator is provided for a bucket or pail having an open end, the manipulator including:
         a leveraging portion configured to abut a portion of the hand or wrist of an operator; and   a connecting portion,       

     wherein the leveraging portion is configured to receive an effort force and allows a substantially rotational force to be applied at or near the connecting portion; and 
     wherein the connecting portion is configured for attaching to a bucket or pail such that the rotational force applied at or near the connecting portion results in rotation of a handle of the bucket or pail away from the open end whilst allowing the bucket or pail to freely pivot with respect to the handle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to holding devices. in particular the present invention is particularly adapted for use in holding buckets and pails having a centrally located pivoting handle.

BACKGROUND ART

Most commonly used pails' or buckets' use a centrally located pivoting handle. These handles are formed in the shape of an arc segment and are attached at or near the upper edge of and on diametrically opposite sides of a pail or bucket. This configuration means that when the bucket is carried by the handle, the centre of mass of the bucket and contents are supported directly below the handle. When the bucket is placed on the ground, the handle is able to freely gravitate and fall to the side of the pail or bucket, thereby allowing free access to the top of the pail or bucket.

One disadvantage of buckets and pails having a centrally locate pivoting handle is that when the bucket or pail is being held by the handle access to the contents of the bucket or pail is greatly restricted by the presence of both the handle and holders hand directly above the opening of the bucket or pail.

An example of where a centrally pivoted handle is particularly disadvantageous is when a paint pail is being held by a painter. It is time consuming for a painter to put the pail down every time they want to move the handle to the side so that they can dip their brush into the contents of the pail, but access to the pail is restricted if they do not.

Typically a painter overcomes this issue by holding the handle with one or more fingers and the edge of the tin with their thumb or other fingers. Whilst this does provide adequate space through which the painter can access the contents of the paint can, it typically results in the painter's hand becoming at least partially coated with paint. Furthermore, holding a paint can in this manner becomes uncomfortable over time.

An alternative method is to tilt the pail by way of the handle, buy using this technique the handle is moved to one side of the pail as the pail is tilted. It is not possible for the pail to be tilted along the axis of the handle pivot as the holder of the bucket has no purchase on the handle along a parallel axis to the handle pivot. Instead the tilting action is performed substantially orthogonally to the handle as the holder is then able to achieve sufficient purchase. The problem with this technique is that the handle remains directly over the pail. By tilting the pail at an angle along an axis which lies between one orthogonal to the handle pivot and one parallel to the handle axis sufficient purchase may be achieved to allow the handle to be moved away from the pail opening without putting the pail on the ground. The problem with this approach is the technique is difficult to control and may result in spillage of paint.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word “comprise”, or variations thereof such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a manipulator for a bucket or pail having an open end, the manipulator characterized in that it includes:

-   -   a leveraging portion configured to abut a portion of the hand or         wrist of an operator; and     -   a connecting portion,         wherein the leveraging portion is configured to receive an         effort force and allows a substantially rotational force to be         applied at or near the connecting portion; and         wherein the connecting portion is configured for attaching to a         bucket or pail such that the rotational force applied at or near         the connecting portion results in rotation of the handle of the         bucket or pail away from the open end thereof.

Throughout this specification a ‘leveraging portion’ should be understood to refer to the portion of a simple lever to which a effort force is applied. The resultant of this effort is translated by way of a fulcrum to a resistance, which in the present invention is the weight of the bucket or pail.

In preferred embodiments the bucket or pail may include a handle which pivots on upper diametrically opposed sides of the bucket or pail.

In preferred embodiments the leveraging portion allows a rotational force to be applied to the connecting portion in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis of a handle.

In some preferred embodiments the connecting portion may be attached to an existing handle of a bucket or pail so that any rotational force applied by the leveraging portion is translated into rotation of the handle about the pivot axis through which the handle is attached to the bucket or pail.

In other preferred embodiments the connecting portion may attach directly to a bucket or pail.

A connecting portion which connects directly to a bucket or pail may include protrusions or the like which engage in a complimentary and rotatable relationship with the connection points that the original bucket handle attached to. Alternatively, the connection portion may comprise a strap or band which attaches around the body of the bucket or pail, the strap or band providing a first surface configured for being secured to the bucket or pail and a second surface which includes pivotable connection to a handle and integrated leveraging portion. In this regard the exact configuration of the connection portion should not be seen as being limiting.

In preferred embodiments, when no rotational force is applied to the leveraging portion the handle of the bucket or pail functions substantially the same as would a regular bucket handle. The characteristics of a regular bucket handle are that when not being used to carry the bucket or pail the handle may freely gravitate to either side of the pivot axis by which the handle is attached to the bucket, and when carried by the handle the bucket or pail hangs freely below the handle.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that by applying a rotational force to the handle by way of the leveraging portion, the bucket will be lifted up and to the side of the hand of the person holding the bucket, thereby providing unimpeded access to the bucket or pail. When held in this manner the buckets weight will be distributed through both the portion of the handle held by the users hand and the point where the user's hand, arm or wrist applies pressure to the leveraging portion. Without the addition of a leveraging portion the user would require a very high hand strength in order to achieve sufficient hand friction with the handle so as to prevent rotation of the handle in the users hand.

In preferred embodiments the connecting portion may include:

-   -   one or more interfacing portion(s),         wherein the or each interfacing portion is configured to connect         to either:     -   the existing handle of a bucket or pail; or     -   the body of a bucket or pail; or     -   the attachment portion(s) of a bucket to which an original         bucket handle attaches.

In some preferred embodiments the connection portion may include:

-   -   one or more engagement portion(s),         wherein the or each interfacing portion prevents the leveraging         portion from rotating independently relative to the connection         portion.

In some preferred embodiments the engagement portion may clamp, clip or otherwise engage with the handle of a bucket or pail.

It will be understood that the form of the handle to which the engagement portion engages will dictate the forms that the engagement portion may take. By way of non-limiting example, a round wire handle as is used on many paint pails may require an engagement portion which includes a clamp with sufficient bite to prevent the handle rotating therein. Alternatively an engagement portion which is disposed on an opposite side of the connection portion to the leveraging portion may be used, the engagement portion being configured to abut the handle at a position nearer to the bucket or pail, the connection portion thereby forming a fulcrum. If the bucket handle is not round in cross-section, such as for example a square cross-section, the engagement portion may simply be an aperture which corresponds to the cross section of the handle, a square handle not being able to rotate in a closely fitting square hole. In this regard the exact configuration of the engagement portion should not be seen as being limiting.

In other preferred embodiments the handle may be a replacement handle that can be substituted for a standard bucket or pail handle.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that a replacement handle may be a single unitary construction, whereby the holding member, leveraging portion and arc handle are formed as a single component. However a replacement handle could also be constructed from any number of discrete components, which together form a replacement handle. In use an original bucket or pail handle is discarded and a replacement handle is attached in its place.

Embodiments which comprise a replacement handle may be configured attach to the existing pivot attachment points from which an original handle has been removed.

In yet further embodiments a replacement handle may include a connection portion which is configured to attach to the outer surface of a bucket or pail, a non-limiting list of example connection portions may include:

-   -   an adhesive connection portion which simply adheres to the side         of a bucket or pail; or     -   a connection portion which straps around the body of a bucket or         pail.

In other preferred embodiments the handle may be retrofitted to an existing bucket or pail handle.

A retrofit handle will be understood to refer to a handle which can be slid onto or otherwise attached to an existing bucket or pail handle. In use the original bucket or pail handle remains attached to the bucket or pail, however a retrofit handle including a leveraging portion and connecting portion is attached to the original handle such that rotational force can be applied to the original handle by way of the leveraging portion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing substantially unimpeded access to a carried paint pail by way of a manipulator for a bucket or pail, the manipulator including a leveraging portion configured to receive an effort force from the hand or wrist of an operator and a connection portion, the method including the step of, from a position of holding a paint pail or bucket in a freely hanging position with the handle vertical and held by ones fingers:

-   -   a) rotating the wrist, hand or arm to a substantially horizontal         position, whereby a portion of the hand or wrist abuts the         leveraging portion attached to the said handle so as to apply an         effort force thereto and thereby rotates the handle to a         substantially more horizontal position.

It will be appreciated that rotation of the handle to a more horizontal position results in the bucket or pail being moved from a position directly below the handle a position to the side of the handle when viewed from above. Rotation of the handle results in the handle and the hand of the person holding the bucket no longer impeding access to the mouth of the pail or bucket.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages over the prior art, those advantages including, but not being limited to:

-   -   providing a comfortable and ergonomic replacement handle to         replace or adapt the existing handle of a bucket or pail; and     -   providing a system by which a bucket or pail can be comfortably         and conveniently carried by a user, whilst allowing free         unimpeded access to the contents of the bucket or pail when         required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a bucket to which is attached a retrofit handle in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the bucket of FIG. 1 being held in a position which allows access to the bucket contents;

FIG. 3 shows the retrofit handle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a bucket to which is attached a retrofit handle in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows the bucket of FIG. 4 being held in a position which allows access to the bucket contents; and

FIG. 6 shows the retrofit handle of FIG. 4.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a manipulator for a bucket or pail 1 which is attached to the original square or rectangular cross section handle 2 of a bucket 3. The manipulator 1 has apertures 4 through which the existing bucket 3 handle 2 is passed. In this manner the manipulator 1 when fitted to the original handle 2 has a holding portion (not shown) but comprising the portion of the original handle which lies between the apertures 4 of the manipulator 1. The manipulator 1 also has leveraging portion 5, which is only partially visible behind the hand 6 of a person, not shown, holding the bucket handle 2.

The manipulator 1 has been attached to the original handle 2 by way of:

-   -   removal of the original handle 2 from the bucket 3;     -   threading of the original handle 2 through the apertures 4 of         the manipulator 1; and     -   re-attachment of the original handle 2 and attached manipulator         1 to the handle 2 of bucket 3.

In use, and as shown in FIG. 1, the bucket 3 with attached manipulator 1 can be carried by a user, of which only the left hand 6 is shown, in a conventional manner with the weight of the bucket 3 and contents is directly below and entirely supported by the hand 6 of the user holding handle 2. This allows the user to easily carry the bucket with minimal risk of spillage, however access to the contents of the bucket is restricted due to the location of the manipulator 1 original handle 2 and users hand 6 immediately above the opening of the bucket. When access to the contents of the bucket 3 is desired, the hand 2 of the user is pivoted at the wrist 7 causing the back of the users hand 2 to abut the leveraging portion 5 of the manipulator 1. The pressure of the back of the users hand 2 on leveraging portion 5 causes a rotation of the manipulator 1 and the attached original handle 2 along an axis B-B′ parallel to the pivot axis A-A′ of the original handle.

FIG. 2 shows the position of bucket 3 relative to the manipulator 1 and original handle 2 when pressure is applied to leveraging portion 5. The bucket 3 is rotated upwards and out from under the original handle 2 and user's hand 6 thereby allowing unrestricted access to the mouth of the bucket 3.

With reference to FIG. 3 there is shown a manipulator 1 prior to attachment to an existing bucket handle, not shown in FIG. 3. Manipulator 1 has a leveraging portion 5 to which is attached a handle attachment portion in the form of sides 8 through which apertures 4 have been formed. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3 the apertures are shown as being trapezoid in shape, however it will be understood that the shape of the aperture and/or configuration of the handle attachment portion will vary depending upon the cross section of the handle to which the manipulator 1 is to be attached. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the apertures 4 shown in FIG. 3 are configured for use with a handle having a rectangular cross section.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 there is shown a second preferred embodiment of a manipulator 10 for a bucket or pail 13 which is attached to the original wire handle 12 of a bucket 13. The manipulator 10 has a leveraging portion 15, a connecting portion in the form of a recess 18 and engagement portions 14. In use the handle 12 slots into recess 18, the handle 12 also clips into engagement portions 14. It will however be apparent that the manipulator 10 connection portion 18 may clip onto the handle 12 and slot into engagement portions 14. When, the bucket 13 is lifted by the handle 12 and attached manipulator 10 the buckets weight is distributed through the wire handle 12 to the manipulator 10 and into the users hand 6. In this position the engagement portions 14 are not providing a substantial contribution to the support of the buckets weight. The engagement portions 14 are positioned lower than the connection portion 18 relative to bucket 13 supported by the manipulator 10. The positioning of leveraging portion 15, connection portion 18 and engagement members 14 forms a lever with a fulcrum substantially at the apex of the vertical handle. In use, force applied to leveraging member 15 pushes engagement members 14 against the handle 12 resulting in the handle 12 being rotated in the same manner as detailed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 4 shows the position of bucket 13 relative to the manipulator 10 and wire handle 12 when the bucket is carried in a normal manner with no force being applied to the leveraging member 15. FIG. 5 shows the position of the bucket 13 relative to the manipulator 10 and wire handle 12 when pressure is applied to leveraging portion 15 by the back of the users hand 6. The bucket 13 is rotated upwards and out from under the wire handle 12 and user's hand 6 thereby allowing unrestricted access to the mouth of the bucket 13.

With reference to FIG. 6 there is shown a manipulator 10 prior to attachment to a wire bucket handle. Manipulator 10 has a leveraging portion 15, to which is attached a handle attachment portion in the form of a recessed groove 18 a formed in a curved rigid member 18. The curvature of the curved rigid member corresponds to the curvature of the handle (not shown) of the bucket (not shown). At the distal ends of the curved rigid member are engagement members 14. The engagement members 14, in use, prevent the manipulator 10 from rotating relative to the wire handle.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims 

1. A manipulator for a bucket or pail having an open end, the manipulator comprising: a leveraging portion configured to, in use, abut a portion of the back of the hand or wrist of an operator; and a connecting portion, wherein, in use, the leveraging portion is configured to receive an effort force by way of abutment with the back of a user's hand or wrist and allows a substantially rotational force to be applied at or near the connecting portion; and wherein the connecting portion is configured for attaching to a bucket or pail such that the rotational force applied at or near the connecting portion results in rotation of a handle of the bucket or pail away from the open end whilst allowing the bucket or pail to freely pivot with respect to the handle.
 2. The manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leveraging portion allows a rotational force to be applied to the connecting portion in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis of a handle.
 3. The manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is attached to an existing handle of a bucket or pail so that any rotational force applied by the leveraging portion is translated into rotation of the handle about the pivot axis through which the handle is attached to the bucket or pail.
 4. The manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion attaches directly to a bucket or pail.
 5. The manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion comprises: one or more interfacing portion(s); and wherein the or each interfacing portion is configured to connect to either: the existing handle of a bucket or pail; or the body of a bucket or pail; or the attachment portion(s) of a bucket to which an original bucket handle attaches.
 6. The manipulator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the one or more interfacing portion(s) prevents the leveraging portion from rotating independently relative to the connection portion.
 7. The manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement portion engages with the handle of a bucket or pail so as to prevent rotation of the engagement portion with respect to the handle.
 8. The manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulator is a replacement handle that is configured to be substituted for a standard bucket or pail handle.
 9. The manipulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connection portion is configured attach to the existing pivot attachment points on a bucket or pail from which an original handle has been removed.
 10. The manipulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connection portion is configured to attach to the outer surface of a bucket or pail:
 11. The manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulator is configured to be retrofitted to an existing bucket or pail handle.
 12. A method of providing substantially unimpeded access to a carried paint bucket or pail having an open end by way of a manipulator including a leveraging portion configured to receive an effort force from the back of the hand or wrist of an operator and a connection portion configured for attaching to a bucket or pail, the method including the step of, from a position of holding a paint pail or bucket in a freely hanging position with the handle vertical and held by ones fingers: a. rotating the wrist, hand or arm to a substantially horizontal position, whereby a portion of the back of the hand or wrist abuts the leveraging portion attached to the said handle so as to apply an effort force thereof and thereby rotating the handle of the bucket or pail away from the open end, wherein the bucket or pail remains freely pivotable with respect to the handle.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled) 